No, not mine (that's probably best kept for another site!) but my parents.
Dad has Vascular Parkisonism and has been getting forgetful lately... I do wonder if he is showing a few signs of Dementia due to his condition but...
Last September he ended up in hospital with an E Coli infection in his urinary system following a week of constipation. His condition worsened as a result. Ever since then I've been nagging him daily to drink more fluids. He HAS upped his intake to about 3 glasses a day... he tells me that he has never drunk much water and was brought up to only drink when he was actually thirsty (by which time he would already have been dehydrated grrr...)
But anyway he reckons he's doing his best.
Mum has Vascular Dementia and her strokes have affected her swallowing. She is on a mashable diet although copes well with foods 'off the list'. She has Resource Thickener for her drinks but I suspect she often doesn't add it. She probably drinks less than Dad.
After reading this forum and the warnings of the effects of a person with Dementia getting a UTI I obviously stepped up the nagging/encouragement for BOTH of them. This morning I arrived at their bungalow and Dad told me she had been constipated this morning (unheard of) and had been more upset than usual (she has been very weepy in the mornings for the last few months and has been on Mirtazapine for the last 3 weeks). I went out and bought some tasty cordials for the BOTH to have and went over why they need to have them and the dangers of not drinking enough fluids.... I know Mum might not remember unless it's for Dad's sake (she dotes on him) and Dad says he does understand but I don't think he fully appreciates the full impact of what the consequences could be.
Can ANYONE please give me some tips on how to get some fluids down their necks without resorting to Suffragette-style tactics? I am a logical person and I know Dementia has no truck with logic but I really thought my logical Dad would get on board, however it seems I inherited my intransigent, stubborn, heels dug in persona from him as well as my Spock side.... HELP!!!!!
Dad has Vascular Parkisonism and has been getting forgetful lately... I do wonder if he is showing a few signs of Dementia due to his condition but...
Last September he ended up in hospital with an E Coli infection in his urinary system following a week of constipation. His condition worsened as a result. Ever since then I've been nagging him daily to drink more fluids. He HAS upped his intake to about 3 glasses a day... he tells me that he has never drunk much water and was brought up to only drink when he was actually thirsty (by which time he would already have been dehydrated grrr...)
But anyway he reckons he's doing his best.
Mum has Vascular Dementia and her strokes have affected her swallowing. She is on a mashable diet although copes well with foods 'off the list'. She has Resource Thickener for her drinks but I suspect she often doesn't add it. She probably drinks less than Dad.
After reading this forum and the warnings of the effects of a person with Dementia getting a UTI I obviously stepped up the nagging/encouragement for BOTH of them. This morning I arrived at their bungalow and Dad told me she had been constipated this morning (unheard of) and had been more upset than usual (she has been very weepy in the mornings for the last few months and has been on Mirtazapine for the last 3 weeks). I went out and bought some tasty cordials for the BOTH to have and went over why they need to have them and the dangers of not drinking enough fluids.... I know Mum might not remember unless it's for Dad's sake (she dotes on him) and Dad says he does understand but I don't think he fully appreciates the full impact of what the consequences could be.
Can ANYONE please give me some tips on how to get some fluids down their necks without resorting to Suffragette-style tactics? I am a logical person and I know Dementia has no truck with logic but I really thought my logical Dad would get on board, however it seems I inherited my intransigent, stubborn, heels dug in persona from him as well as my Spock side.... HELP!!!!!
